City of Philadelphia

Service Members, Veterans & Their Families

Veterans Park Riverwalk to get cameras

PORT ST. LUCIE – Security cameras will be installed along Veterans Park Riverwalk to combat vandalism, the City Council decided Monday.

The $450,000 security system is needed because the long and isolated boardwalk has sustained arson and vandalism, said City Manager Russ Blackburn.

The system is the most expensive project on an eight-item shopping list the council unanimously approved for the 2018-19 budget year, which starts Oct. 1.

The money is coming from the city's $1.1 million allotment of federal Community Development Block Grant funds for low-to-moderate income neighborhoods and residents.

The grants are meant for projects and programs that will improve the physical, economic and social conditions of the community.

The council also decided to spend $100,000 to construct a turn lane from Village Green Drive southbound into Cam de Entrada to prevent backups at the entrance to Spanish Lakes Golf Village.

The project is needed to handle the additional traffic anticipated upon the completion of Crosstown Parkway in November 2019.

The council approved spending another $99,355 on safety upgrades and improvements to busy crosswalks on Hillmoor Drive between Tiffany and West Star avenues, near the St. Lucie Medical Center and Port St. Lucie Children's Health Center.

In addition, the council OK'd spending $80,000 to construct missing sidewalk segments and install curb ramps and crosswalks on Floresta Drive between Airoso and Prima Vista boulevards.

The council also allocated $100,545 for the rehabilitation of two or three houses that will be occupied by low-to-moderate income residents.

The rest of the money will be spent on pavilion renovations at Rotary Park, a storage shed for the Police Athletic League building and training and counseling for small- business owners.

Low-to-moderate income for a family of four in the Port St. Lucie metropolitan area ranges from $18,150-$48,400.